Week 3 Day 5: End of the Month

It is the end of the month. You are feeling very accomplished, frustrated or like you are making progress. No matter how you have been doing on your choices, I want you to remember that you need to take your choices day by day.

You had choices yesterday, today and will have them tomorrow. Some days you making the right choice will be easy. Other days life will get in the way and make it harder to make the right choice. But just because a difficult day comes along, please do not give up. You need to hold yourself accountable, but not be critical or frustrated. Admit you made the wrong choice and then choose wisely the next time.

As I have said many times, I hope you choose God daily and choose to get rest and exercise. I hope you are starting to get your life more organized and are cleaning out the mess. But it will take time and we will do it together one step at time.

As we say goodbye to another month, choose to finish a closet and have a schedule for yourself. Please feel free to ask me for any advice on either of those.

But most importantly, choose to remember how precious you are to God and how much He loves you. No matter how messy life may be, your Father is right there with you. So choose to take a moment and enjoy His presence.

January Action Plan
Choose to clean out a closet.

Week 3 Action Plan
Choose to clean out a closet and memorize Psalm 100

Week 3 Day 5
Choose to sit in the presence of God.
Choose to shout Psalm 100 to God.
Choose enjoy a physical activity with loved ones.
Choose to pick up your room and enjoy this weekend.
Choose to smile because God is good!!

Action Plan Week 3 Day 4: Choosing To Finish

As of today, you have either not started on your closet, half way started on your closet, or maybe you are even finished. If you have not started or in the process of working on it, you have to make the choice to finish. The next three days you have choices to make to finish it or you will choose to put it off.

Your whole life you have been making choices to finish what you started or to put it off another day. I want you to finish your closet by January 31. I want you to have that feeling of accomplishment. But more importantly, I want you to choose to finish the race. I want you not to put off God another day.

Maybe you are like the turtle in the race and have slowly grown in your relationship with God. Or you might be like the hare, you got off to a fast start but stopped to rest. You came to know the Lord and you were excited. Your relationship was on fire but somewhere along the way you choose to take a break. Whether you are the turtle or the hare, it is only important that you finish the race and you finish strong.

Choose to not put off today what you can do today. Do not stop or give it up because you feel you are in the back of the race. Today choose to get back in the race. Today choose not to stop because you get tired or because the path gets filled with potholes and bumps. Lets choose to finish this race together.

January Action Plan
Choose to finish your closet
Shoes: You can store them in clear containers, some type of cubby, or a basket in the bottom of the closet. Pick something that fits your personality. If you take the time to pull them off then containers might work. If you take them off quickly then some type of open cubby works best. If you fling them off your feet then a basket might be best to keep them off the floor.
Purses/Bags: Sit them on a shelf and use dividers to help them stand up or use clear containers to store and protect them. If you have built in cubbies use them for your bags. If you have wall space or back of a closet door, you can use hooks to hang them.

Week 3 Action Plan
Choose to finish your closet and learning the verse.

Week 3 Day 4 Action Plan
Choose to thank God for choosing you for this race.
Choose to read 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 1 Corinthian 9:24-27
Choose to actually go for a jog or walk and think about the race God has called you to.
Choose to have a race and see who can pick up the house or kids room the fastest. (Have a prize like an extra piece of dessert.)
Choose to get a full nights sleep so you are ready for the race.

Week 3 Day 3: Choosing to Find Some Order

As you clean out your closet, you are probably finding a lot of things you do not need. Closets easily become cluttered because we keep throwing more and more stuff in them. Sometimes we throw so much stuff in them that there is no room for the items the closet is supposed to store.

Does your life feel like your closet? You keep cramming more and more into the week that you are about to pop. You have stuffed so much busyness in to your week that there is no room for the important things in life.

Whether it is our closet or our life, we have to make sure we are choosing to arrange important items and choosing to clean out the not so important things that take up too much space. As you clean out your closet, I want you to really think about what you are trying to cram into your life. What in your life is like that shirt from 3 years ago that is just taking up space? Would you notice if it was not part of your life anymore? Would it be a relief to have that time back?

As you continue to work on your schedule from last week, make sure you are cleaning out your schedule like you clean out your closet.

January Action Plan:
Choose to clean out a closet
Find containers to store items on top shelf.
Try not to use your shelf under your clothes for items.
Try to designate a place for shoes (options coming tomorrow)
Organize by sections (dress and casual, colors or by sleeve length)

Week 3 Action Plan:
Choose to clean out your closet and memorize Psalm 100.

Week 3 Day 3 Action Plan:
Choose to thank God for providing you with life and ask for wisdom in your choices for your life.
Choose to read Matthew 6:25-34
Choose to jog or jump rope during every commercial break during a TV show.
Choose to wipe down the bathrooms. (Lysol wipes are fine.)
Choose to go to bed on time.

Week 3 Day 2: Choose to Clean Out

If you have not cleaned out your closet already, this is the last week in January. So let's choose to get it done.

Yesterday we talked about smaller portions. Your probably think you need a bigger closet or more storage space. Instead if griping about our closet size, let downsize by getting rid of all the junk we do not use.

1. Get a trash bag, recycle bag, and a donation bag.
2. If you have not wore it this past year then goodbye.
3. If you are hoping it comes back in style and it might, still say goodbye
4. If there is a hole or repair that you have planned on fixing this past year then goodbye.
5. If you are storing pictures or papers, get containers that sit nicely on your top shelf.
6. If you have an abundance of paint/can get messy t-shirts, narrow it down to under five shirts unless you are a professional painter.
7. If it is no where near your size anymore, then goodbye.
8. If it is cassette tapes that have no cassette player then why do you have them?
9. If it is a bag/purse that is older then your children, goodbye.

I think you get the idea. So work on getting rid of the old stuff and tomorrow we will work on arranging the things we keep.

January Action Plan:

Choose to clean out the closet.

Week 3 Action Plan:

Choose to stop putting off cleaning out a closet and memorize Psalm 100.

Week 3 Day 2 Action Plan:

Choose to praise God for another day of life.

Choose to read Proverbs 4.

www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=prov%204&version=NIV

Choose to exercise by doing some type of ab and arm exercises during a TV show.

Choose to do a Family 15 and pick up the clutter.

Week 3 Day 1 Action Plan: Choosing Smaller Portions

We are a super size nation. We super size our food, our homes, our cars, our stuff and our stress.

The other day as we were getting ready for dinner, my son makes a comment. He says he wished we had more money so we had more food at dinner. I had to laugh. He was shocked when I told him he was eating proportional sizes. But I realized his generation has been raised as a super sized generation.

A super size generation is not happy with meeting its needs, it thrives on getting what it wants whether it needs it or not. Choosing not to be satisfied and wanting more is only going to lead to unhappiness. We do not need super sized meals, super sized homes (that you do not want to clean), or super sized stuff (by price or size). We only need a super sized God (which I am so glad we have).

It is time to choose smaller portions that lead to much greater joy. Let's look at a few examples.

1. You choose to eat the large, super size portions. It may taste yummy for the moment, but afterwards you feel like crud. And eventually after too many super sized meals, you do not like what you see in the mirror.
If you choose smaller portions, you can save money because you split a meal or eat off the dollar menu which is a more appropriate portion size. You do not feel yucky afterwards and eventually your stomach is satisfied by the smaller amount. Choosing smaller portions equals a smaller waistline and more money.

2. You choose to up size your home with or without the fiances. It leads to more debt, more to clean, and if you are not careful, less time as a family. And all of those lead to more stress.
Do not choose a bigger home if you do not have the finances. It is not an option. Do not get caught up in the bigger home because it is the American dream. For generations, many families have survived and enjoyed their average size home. Choose to have a home you can easily make a place of refuge and a place to train your child in the ways of the Lord (it will be different for each person).

3. You keep choosing more stuff for your home and for yourself. More stuff only leads to more to clean, more to wash, more debt, less satisfaction. Be careful to define what is a need and what is a want.

4. Choose to have a super sized God. Choose to have a super sized relationship with Him. It will make you want a whole lot less and help you discern between needs and wants.

It is time we start choosing the right portions not just for ourselves but for the next generation. We can choose to stop obesity, selfishness, and dissatisfaction with life. It is our choice and our responsibility to teach the next generation.

January Action Plan
Choose to clean out a closet.

Week 3 Action Plan
Choose to stop putting off cleaning out your closet and clean it out. Choose to continue to memorize Psalm 100.

Week 3 Day 1 Action Plan
Choose to write a list of all God has given you and what he has done for you.
Choose to read Psalm 25. Isn't He a great God?
Choose to jog, dance or walk off those super size proportions you ate.
Choose to clean up the kitchen from this weekend.

Week 2 Day 4: Choosing Your Schedule

There was little boy who could never finish his sandwich at lunch. His mom packed him his favorite PB&J but he could not finish that big whole sandwich. The mom finally decided to try something new. She cut it in four small squares. And amazingly cutting it into four small squares was the solution. He would finish the sandwich. His focus could not last on the whole sandwich but when it was cut into smaller pieces he had no problem.

Some of you may be that little boy. You let your laundry pile up. Your house gets a mess. And trying to focus long enough to clean up the whole mess is just not going to happen. You are going to give up before you finish. You need to take your laundry, house cleaning in smaller portions. Maybe even your workouts need to be in smaller sections.

When choosing your schedule, you want to make sure it works with your personality. I like to do it all at once. I have friends who say they feel ADD when it comes to housework. They need to break it up. Either is ok. It is just important you choose to do it.

What needs to be in your schedule:
1.Prayer
2 Scripture Reading
3. Exercise
4. Household chores & laundry
5. Family time (dinner, devotional & prayer)
6. Outside home activities

Small Section Schedule: Choose to do your schedule in 15 minute sections and no more than 30 minute sections.
1. Prayer - first thing talk to God
2. Scripture Reading - Maybe over lunch, before you go to bed, in the car while child is at practice
3. Exercise - You can break it up. Walk during child's practice, ab exercises during TV show, play with kids outside for 15 minutes, use cans as weights while you cook dinner
4. Household chores - A room a day (wipe baths on Mondays, living room Tuesday, bedroom Wednesday, etc.) I suggest cleaning kitchen as you cook and immediately after supper. It makes the kitchen easy.
5. Laundry - A load a day. (throw load in when you get home, in dryer before bed. Put up the next day)
6. Family time- Schedule family dinners. No compromises. You can have devo at dinner or pick one night for devo and another for prayer. You can also have Cd's in car as you drive around.
7. Don't forget to put down other activities.

More at once Schedule: You can probably do your schedule by the hour with half hour as needed.
1. Prayer- First thing
2. Scripture reading -With prayer time or at another time (see above)
3. Exercise - Choose 20-30 minute of cardio and add 10-20 minutes of conditioning three times a week. You can always count playing outside with kids. Use time you wait on kids to get in a workout or during a TV show.
4. Household chores - Do it one swipe. Set aside a couple of hours for you and fellow housemates to clean the house.
5. Laundry- You can do it the same time you clean house or set aside another day to focus on laundry. If you do it at once make sure you have a timer to make sure you switch out loads. And start with smaller loads and save bigger loads that take longer to dry for last. It will make it go faster.
6. Family time- Make sure you have family dinner time. You can have your devotional time and prayer time with you dinner time. Enjoy your time.
7. Other activities- Don't forget your other activities.

Choose to use your time wisely. You can fold laundry or exercise during a TV show. You can exercise or read scripture while your child is at practice or waiting. You can read scripture while waiting for a doctor's appointment.
You have time in your day. Choose to use it wisely.
Choose to set a schedule that fits your personality.
Choose your priorities wisely and make sure your schedule reflects them. Fix your schedule if it does not.

Please feel free to comment with any questions or email me and I will help you with your schedule. I am here to assist you so you can have less mess and stress.

January Action Plan:
Choose to clean out a closet.

Week 2 Action Plan:
Choose to make a schedule and memorize Psalm 100.

Week 2 Day4 Action Plan:
Choose to praise God for a new day.
Choose to read Proverbs 2 (Choosing wisdom)
Choose to do some ab exercises during TV show and lift cans as you cook dinner.
Choose to play Wii, outside, a board game with your family or friends.
Choose to pick up your room.

Week 2 Day 2&3

Dear friends, I am so sorry I have not been able to write this week. Due to a child with a fractured arm, a sick child, and allergies that messed up my eyes, I have had to sacrifice writing. I promise to be back. But here is your action plan.

January Action Plan:
Choose to clean out a closet.

Week 2 Action Plan:
Choose to make a weekly or biweekly schedule.
Choose to memorize Psalm 100.

Week 2 Day 2&3 Action Plan:
Choose to lift your burdens to God.
Choose to read Psalm 100 and shout it to God.
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps%20100&version=NIV
Choose to exercise. (suggestions: alternate jogging, jump rope, and jumping jacks for 15 minutes)
Choose to do a quick wipe down of the bathroom cabinet and toilet. Lysol wipes were great.

Action Plan Week 2 Day 1

January Action Plan
Choose to clean out a closet.

Week 2 Action Plan
Choose to make a weekly schedule that includes exercise, God, sleep, chores, etc. (more info to come)

Week 2 Day 1 Action Plan
Choose to seek God and pray for yourself and your family's week.
Choose to read a story about David you remember. But really look at his relationship with God.
Choose to go for a walk, jog or play outside with kids.
Choose to clean up the kitchen from the weekend.
Choose to have a family prayer time for the week.

Action Plan Week 1 Day 6: Choose to Cry Out

God is amazing. He is an awesome God. He is greater than we can imagine. His love is unconditional. His power is unexplainable. But He is not far away. God is with us. Why do we choose to have timid prayers and not cry out to Him?

I have a couple of questions for you. Have you ever cried out to God? When is the last time you really opened up to Him? Do you experience joy, anguish, tears, comfort, any emotion when you pray? Has prayer just become a routine?

I have been blessed to know some amazing women of prayer. They cry out to God. They use His Word in their prayers. They acknowledge who He is, what He has done, and what He is going to do. As they pray, you can know they believe in God and who He is. They cry, rejoice, shout and believe. I don't know about you, but I want to experience that relationship with Christ every time I pray.

I want to be like King David. He danced in the streets to praise God. He cried out from the caves when he feared for his life. He shared everything with God. Can we choose do the same?

Today, do not just choose to go through the motions of prayer.
Choose to praise God for who He is. Really believe the words you say. Feel your heart race as you get excited about your God.
Choose to truly repent and seek forgiveness. Do not just list off your sins that need to be forgiven. Feel the emotion of truly repenting from the the sorrow of the sin to joy of His forgiveness.
Choose to lift up your burdens for yourself and others. You do not have to hold back emotion.
Choose to believe God. Believe in what He can do and trust in His will. Praise Him for what He is going to do.

January Action Plan:
Choose to clean out a closet.

Week 1 Action Plan:
Choose to clean out a junk drawer and learn verse.

Week 1 Day 5 Action Plan:
Choose to cry out to God. Don't hold back.
Choose to read Psalm 86 and Psalm 150.
Choose to exercise. Play on the Wii, dance around the living room, just move.
Choose to do a Family 15 when you get home and pick up the living area and kitchen. It will help you enjoy the weekend so much more.
Choose to have at least 30 min- 1 hour of family time. Play a game or find something fun to do together.

Action Week 1 Day 5: Choose to Realize

Most of us are stressed because of all our stuff and things we have to do. We are tired of having to clean and wash all our stuff. We either hate cleaning our big house or want a bigger nicer house. We are busy because we have to many opportunities to do different things. But these things are blessings. The people of Haiti are facing true trials and destruction.

As a nation we have become very spoiled. It is times when we see true suffering that we realize how truly blessed we are. Now it is time to choose put aside our selfish gripes and cry out to God for the people of Haiti.

Today all I am going to ask you to do is to lift up Haiti and those who are leaving their families here to go help Haiti. Families are mourning. Homes are lost. People are injured with little medical help. Many in Haiti do not know Christ.

Your action plan today is to pray. When you are having to do a load of laundry or pick up your house, thank God that you have those things and pray for those who have lost it all. While you have to drive your kids place to place, thank God for your children and pray for those parents who have lost their children and those who are tyring to find their children. As you walk in a room and see a mess, pray for those stuck in the rubble and for rescue efforts. As you pass your bible, stop pick it up and pray for the Word and its hope to reach those in Haiti.

"Church groups are singing throughout the city all through the night in prayer. It is a beautiful sound in the middle of a horrible tragedy."--From Twitter user troylivesay in Port-au-Prince on Wednesday.


Choose to realize your blessings today and lift up Haiti in prayer today.

January Action Plan:
Choose to clean out a closet.

Action Week 1 Plan:
Choose to clean out a junk drawer and learn verse.

Action Week 1 Day 5:
Choose to pray.

Action Week 1 Day 4: Choose to Conquer the Junk Drawer

This week we are choosing to clean out a junk drawer. I wanted to give you a few pointers to make it quick and easy.

1. Have a trash bag, a container or tabletop to dump everything, scrap piece of paper and basket for items that need to be taken somewhere else.
2. You will need a drawer organizer. You can use a old utensil organizer or even find small trays at the dollar store to arrange in the drawer. (Be sure to measure depth, width and height before you buy anything.)
3. Dump out the drawer.
4. Arrange drawer organizer or trays in drawer.
5. Have trash, paper and basket by drawer.
6. Start sorting. It will go in the trash, basket or drawer.
7. Test all writing utensils to see if they still work.
8. If you have not used it in a year, you can probably get rid of it.
9. Put up the items that go somewhere else in the house.
10. Enjoy your drawer!!

It is that simple and easy. Laugh at what you find and enjoy the treasure hunt! You may even make some money in the process.

And as you clean out the drawer, I want you to remember that choosing to put God back in your life is just as easy. You do not have to wait until you are good enough. You do not have to wait until you get it together. You do not have to wait until you break those bad habits. God loves you no matter how messy your life may be. He is there to forgive you. He is there to guide you. You just have to give God control and put your life in His hands. Stop trying to get it together first and just choose to have a relationship with Christ. He loves you and He has chosen you.

January Action Plan:

Choose to clean out a closet.

Week 1 Action Plan:

Choose to clean out a junk drawer and memorize verse.

Week 1 Day 4 Action Plan:

Choose to celebrate that God has chosen you.

Choose to read Colossian 3:1-15 (pay attention to 12-14) You can use link.

www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3&version=NIV

Choose to spend 20 minutes outside playing with kids, going for a walk, etc (if too cold see yesterday)

Choose to sit down and pray with your family. (if single, pray with a friend, roomie, or call a loved one.)

Action Plan Week 1 Day 3:Choosing To Let Everything Glorify God

Where is God in your life? I know some of you only miss church if you are sick or on vacation. Some of you actively serve in the church. Both of these are highly important. But do you glorify God in your physical health, with your family, in your home?

We get in the habit of keeping different parts of our lives separate. We keep work at work. We keep school and extra activities separate. And unfortunately, we keep God at church. When we start to choose to leave God at church, our lives fall apart around us (mess and stress).

Why would we want to keep the great Creator, Physician, Provider, Healer and Savior out of everything? Do you even think that God is the provider and everything you have is a gift from Him? Do you treat your things as a blessing or as stuff? Do you stop and think about who created you? Who cares enough to know the number of hairs on your head? Do you take care of that creation or let it go to waste? Do you remember that your family, your children are a gift from God? A gift He gave you to teach in His ways? It is time to choose to remember who we are, whose image we were created in, who blesses us with life and so many other things. We cannot leave God at church anymore.

We are God's masterpiece, choose to take care of your physical health through exercise and eating right.
Our children are a gift from God, choose to make training them the ways of the Lord a priority in your home.
God has blessed us with a roof over our head and more, choose to treat your home as a gift not junk.
God sent His Son to die for your sins, choose to take time just for God to praise Him and be with Him everyday.

January Action Plan:
Choose to clean out a closet (donate items to a local charity)

Week 1 Action Plan:
Choose to clean out and organize a junk drawer. Memorize your verse.

Day 3 Action Plan:
Choose to spend time thanking God for all He has given you. Even on our worst day, we are still truly blessed.
Choose to jump rope, jog, or dance for 15 minutes.
Choose to put away laundry that has been sitting out.
Choose to read your favorite childhood Bible story with your kids or to yourself.

Action Week 1 Day 2: Choose To Lose The Junk

Wouldn't it be nice if the only junk in our lives was in our junk drawer? But just like our junk drawers we try to cram more and more stuff in our lives until we find ourselves trying to dig our way out.

We overbook our days which leads to eating more junk and throwing stuff in our house as we run in and out. Most of the chaos starts with our schedules and it just goes downhill from there. As you begin this new year, take time to look at your schedule and reevaluate. As you reevaluate, use this week's scripture,

"Be careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity." Ephesians 5:15-16.

Is all that busyness making the most of every opportunity? Is scheduling yourself or kids for all those activities a wise decision? Now we can justify why it seems wise, but is it? Your schedule shows your priorities. Is God and family time a priority? Is serving each other and those around you reflected in your schedule? Is making the most of every opportunity, making the most for yourself or for others? Please memorize this verse and use it as you make your schedule on a daily basis.

And as we clean out our junk drawers and organize them, we need to organize some things in our lives. Just like you need compartments in your drawer, you need some compartments in your life that are essential to living a wise life. Here are a few wise choices that we have covered.

Choose God first.

Choose to take care of yourself by exercising and eating healthy.

Choose to sit down and teach your children in the ways of the Lord.

Choose to get rid of the junk this week. It will take away some of that mess and stress.

January Action Plan:

Choose to clean out a closet.

This Week's Action Plan:

Choose to clean out a junk drawer and memorize verse (see verse above)

Today's Action Plan:

Choose to pray for wisdom in your choices and in your life.

Choose to listen to God as He speaks and reread Ephesians 5:1-18.

Choose to exercise by grabbing weights or cans. Do some bicep and triceps curls.

Choose to sit down as a family over dinner or dessert. Discuss the verse and making wise choices.

Choose to split up duties and clean up after dinner together. Enjoy the time together.

Action Week 1 Day 1: Choose to Start in 2010

I finally had the chance to watch "Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs." There is one scene when the mayor whispers in Flint's ear, "It's your choice." Flint had to choose to do what his father thought was best or listen to the Mayor and hope to be loved and admired by all. The mayor just kept whispering in his ear convincing him to choose what the the mayor wanted.

We all have our Flint moment. We know what our Father wants us to do but other voices keep whispering in our ear to choose something that sounds better. But just like Flint we have to learn that our Father is trying to set us on the right path, but we need to learn it before we are trying to save ourselves and before our lives are just one big giant mess swirling and falling apart around us.

For those of you that have been on this journey with me from the beginning, you know what your Father wants you to choose. (If you are just now joining us on this journey, please go back and start with the first blog of this study. I don't want you to miss out on anything.) It is time we start choosing. It is a new year. It is a cold winter. So what better time to get our lives, health and homes back on track by making the right choices.

I still will be blogging about choices to help get rid of the mess and stress. But I also will be giving us a daily action plan. We are going to do this together. You will be doing it with the others who have gone on this journey. It is now time to choose to act.

January's Action Plan:
Choose to clean out one closet.

This week's action plan:
Choose to clean out the junk drawer.
Choose to memorize Ephesians 5:15-16 "Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."

Today's action plan:
Choose to pray for your week and your family's week.
Choose to read Ephesians 5
www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eph%205&version=NIV
Choose to jog, dance, and/or jump rope for 15 minutes. Have fun with it. Get the kids to join in.
Choose to do a Family 15 and pick up the house at the end of the day.